Yearbook 79: Black is not OK against Magnus in the Paulsen

ForumReaders from all over the world join in discussions of previous surveys. Both (grand)masters and club players shed their light on new opening developments and search together for the truth. With contributions by Simon Williams, Efstratios Grivas, Jose Luis Vilela and many others.

Sosonko's Corner’Vam shakh, grossmeister’ quipped Bobby Fischer before beating specialist Tigran Petrosian in blitz. Genna Sosonko shows in his Corner that a check in the opening can be devastating. The phenomenon seems to gain popularity. Our Editor comes up with an entertaining mixture of old and new traps. Alexander Morozevich checked on move 3 in the Philidor in an internet blitz game. It could be lethal in bullet!

Book ReviewsTwo more animals in the chess zoo feature in Glenn Flear's Reviews: the venerable Bird and the idiosyncratic Hippopotamus. They are contrasted with the mainstream 1.e4 e5 openings and the King’s Indian. Being an avid Ruy Lopez player himself, Flear eagerly read Nigel Davies’s ‘Play 1.e4 e5!’ and found that Davies had discovered some nice ideas: ‘I might try a few out myself!’ may be the highest praise you can get from a grandmaster reviewer! Flear was also taken by Mikhail Golubev’s personal view on the King’s Indian in his new book, analysing 56 of his own games. An entertaining, high-quality and original work, writes Flear. ‘Rebellious material’ and ‘weird stuff’ we find in Andrew Martin’s ‘The Hippopotamus Rises’. Our reviewer finds it original, but a little skimpy. Recommended for those who, like the Hippopotamus, like to swim in muddy waters…